Oil pan that won't hang! Or hangs too much?

[David_L]

Guys,

I sourced my boss 363 engine from Make Forte. He knew what it was going to be used in but it appears the oil pan will need to be replaced. I'm a little disappointed that this was over looked. I did talk to Mike and he said guys in the forums were over-rating the need for oil pan to be flush or above frame but I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that.

I measured this oil pan and the lowest point is 8.5 inches from the mating surface so I'm guessing this won't work. I think this might be a stock mustang oil pan? On the invoice its listed as an Oil pan kit with Pan, Pickup and Hardware.

So assuming I will need to replace the oil pan, what would be a best fit for this engine? I think anything that fits a SBF 302 should work, but I've also heard there are some differences.

Also what else will need to be changed, like the dip stick, oil pump pickup ect..?

I've seen this this pan listed. Will it fit the Boss 363?
https://www.champpans.com/products/p/cp302lt-rr/



https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=158676&d=1639615469

[rich grsc]

I have never seen anything about someone actually damaging a pan ????, but if it was an inch below the frame I might be concerned. I'm a fan of Kevko pans, good quality and price. The dipstick is fine, but you'll have to use the correct oil pump pickup.
https://kevkoracing.com/collections/ford-302-351w

[David_L]

I have never seen anything about someone actually damaging a pan ????, but if it was an inch below the frame I might be concerned. I'm a fan of Kevko pans, good quality and price. The dipstick is fine, but you'll have to use the correct oil pump pickup.
https://kevkoracing.com/collections/ford-302-351w

Rich are you talking about the cobra kit car pan with rear sump? Assuming the 302 version will fit my boss 363 its a good price. Does having a rear slump change my setup any?

https://kevkoracing.com/collections/ford-302-351w/products/part-f901-cobra-kit-car-pan-rear-sump

[rich grsc]

You can pick the one you like, or the one you need. You going to put it on the track or only drive on the street? If your engine is based on a 302 block then it will fit. Call them and see what they advise.
I have an older version of the road race pan.

[David_L]

You can pick the one you like, or the one you need. You going to put it on the track or only drive on the street? If your engine is based on a 302 block then it will fit. Call them and see what they advise.
I have an older version of the road race pan.

Thanks Rich! I'm not planning on racing. I hate to have to get a new pan to begin with, but would rather deal with it now then after the install?

[David Williamson]

on my Coupe I hit a lump in the pavement and if my oil pan was below the frame it would have hit. So yes I would change the pan. My ride height is about 3.75 inches so a little low.
171688171690
I was going about 60 MPH following a car so there was no chance to miss it
David W

[Rdone585]

Are you sure that after mounted it will be lower than the frame? There are different height engine mounts that might be used to take care of this. Also, the SBF motor mounts I've seen are a two piece mount. The surface you're measuring from gets a bracket that attaches to the mount. If I measure from the bottom of the 4" tube to the mounting surface on the block I'm seeing roughly 10"+. Caveats - Mine is a MK II, and I didn't jack up the car to make an accurate measurement, and I didn't run a square from the block to my tape measure. But it does look like there's more than 8 1/2" on mine. It's worth looking into. I'd rather not see you change the pan unless you really need to.

[David_L]

Are you sure that after mounted it will be lower than the frame? There are different height engine mounts that might be used to take care of this. Also, the SBF motor mounts I've seen are a two piece mount. The surface you're measuring from gets a bracket that attaches to the mount. If I measure from the bottom of the 4" tube to the mounting surface on the block I'm seeing roughly 10"+. Caveats - Mine is a MK II, and I didn't jack up the car to make an accurate measurement, and I didn't run a square from the block to my tape measure. But it does look like there's more than 8 1/2" on mine. It's worth looking into. I'd rather not see you change the pan unless you really need to.

Thanks for the input!

Wow not sure what to do now unless I hear from someone with a similar engine and oil pan? Is it difficult to swap out the pans with the engine in? I guess I could wait till I fit it as I don't think there's any other way to find out?

[cnutting]

I just swapped the pan in my car. Rate the experience 2/10. I changed from a Canton to an Aviaid. Nice pan, expensive pan, fit perfect. They included a pickup and answered email over the July 4th weekend, so I was very happy with the end result.

[jrcuz]

I got a 347 DART block from Mike. When installed the stock pan was at least 1 inch below the 4 in. tubes. I also talked to Mike but was not happy. I called Mark at Breeze Automotive a forum vendor and got the Canton pan and pickup. I later got a dip stick also, If you change the pan I recommend doing it before it's in the car.
JR

[Papa]

Here is the pan on my 347:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=84624&d=1524424154

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=89018&d=1531782536

It sits right at about the same level as the bottom of the frame. Unfortunately, I don't know what the specific part or manufacturer it is.

[egchewy79]

I have a SBF and kevco cobra pan. I got the rear sump pick up from kevco as well. The pan is just flush with the frame with 3 forte transmission spacers in place. I also got a universal dip stick to go into the pan and blocked off my original dip stick hole in the timing chain cover with a bolt and some JB weld.

[Jim1855]

I'd test fit the engine into chassis with the pieces you intend to use. That way you know what you have and if you need to change anything. Dropping in an engine/trans really isn't that difficult.

Jim

[Dave Tabor]

David L,

I'm using that Champ pan that you linked on my FRPP 302 (Boss block).

https://www.champpans.com/products/p/cp302lt-rr/

That after 'holing' two other pans that had a 7.5" depth and hung about 0.5" below the frame. Both times at the bottom of the corkscrew at Laguna Seca under compression.

I'm into oil pans over $1K, lol.

The real drag is replacing the oil pickup- there is one main cap bolt that has an integrated stud to which most pickup tubes are supported via a tab welded to the pickup tube. This tab can be in different places depending on the manufacturer and thus require moving the stud/main bolt to another position (swapping it with a bolt on another cap to effectively move it). Not hard to do but unnerving on a new engine. Oh, and I have access to a lift so I can stand under the car to do this, lol.

Dave
Gen III Coupe #17
14,500+ miles

[bobl]

Gordon Levy can fix you up with a Champ pan setup at a fair price

[David_L]

Guys thanks for all the input!!

Yesterday I ordered a Kevko Corba pan at 7.5 inches before I saw that the Champ pan is 7 inches! They had already sent me a UPS tracking number. lol Quick service. But I was able to call them and have it canceled.

Just ordered the Champ pan, pickup and dipstick and he said it will ship out today or tomorrow. At 7 inches there shouldn't be any more worries about the oil pan hanging out!

Papa my guess is Blueprint contracts out their own oil pans so can get them cheaper?

Just wish I had paid a bit more when I ordered the engine and had the correct one installed then.

[ChasNMe]

interesting, i hadn't heard of this issue with Mikes engines. i have a 363 with the Boss 302 block on order also. i will give a call to see about getting the low profile champ. below the frame is a no go for me

[Hoooper]

Need for the pan to be flush or above the bottom of the frame is overstated? Ive got scrape marks on the bottom of my frame that would disagree with that assessment!

[David_L]

interesting, i hadn't heard of this issue with Mikes engines. i have a 363 with the Boss 302 block on order also. i will give a call to see about getting the low profile champ. below the frame is a no go for me

I would definitely make sure your package includes a 7 or 7.5 inch deep pan added. Mike may need to order it or maybe you can have it shipped to him? Oil pan kit on my invoice cost me $85 and I need to trash it. I'm doing the Champ pan CP302LT-RR - $399.60
Style: Small Block Ford 302
Dimensions: 7" deep

At 7 inch I should be good to go. Will need to pickup and new dipstick. I will have to figure out how to calibrate it as well. Should be getting it end of week.

Also if you have your motor mounts from your kit, ship them to Mike and he will mod them for the Boss block. They won't fit without a mod. I just shipped mine yesterday. Was able to get them to fit into the med (ship what fits) post office box.